Cognitive

Project Overview

Cognitive is a narrative-driven game project focused on exploration, environmental storytelling, and progressive gameplay teaching.

I led level design and environment production, developing spaces from early greybox through final implementation while also contributing to game design, 3D asset production, production coordination, and playtesting.

Project Metadata

Role

Team Lead / Level Designer / 3D Artist / Producer

Engine / Tools

Unity

Duration

2025–Present

Responsibilities

Level Design · Environment Art · Game Design · Production · Playtesting

Level Design Process

1. 01TEACH→
2. 02REUSE→
3. 03EXTEND

Three spaces form a deliberate teaching progression: introduce the battery interaction, reuse it as a limited resource, then extend the energy system into ranged spatial puzzles.

SPACE 01 / TEACH

Introducing the Battery Mechanic

Space 01 introduces the battery mechanic with minimal complexity. As the player crosses the bridge, a scripted event drops a battery from a ventilation duct, using sound and movement to attract attention. Picking it up and inserting it into a nearby slot opens the way forward, teaching the core interaction before further complexity is introduced.

Design goal

Introduce the battery interaction with minimal complexity.

Greybox focus

Establish a clear traversal path and place the mechanic directly within the player’s route.

Final implementation

Use a scripted drop, sound cue, and nearby battery slot to attract attention and teach the interaction through play.

SPACE 02 / REUSE

Reusing a Limited Resource

Space 02 reframes the battery from a one-time key into a reusable resource. Players must recognize that batteries can be removed from powered slots, then redistribute two batteries between multiple doors to progress. The puzzle tests understanding of the system rather than repetition of the first interaction.

Design goal

Teach the player that batteries remain reusable after activation.

Greybox focus

Create a sequence of gates that requires the same limited resources to be reassigned.

Final implementation

Use two batteries across multiple powered doors so progression depends on understanding resource reuse.

SPACE 03 / EXTEND

Extending the Energy System into Remote Interaction

Space 03 extends the established energy system into ranged interaction. The player gains an energy gun whose energy-ball projectiles activate slots much like batteries. Energy can travel through windows or openings to reach targets the player cannot physically access.

Design goal

Extend the established energy system into ranged spatial problem-solving.

Greybox focus

Create sightlines and separated spaces where the player can see a target without directly reaching it.

Final implementation

Use the energy gun to allow projectiles to travel through windows and activate remote energy slots.

The camera positions differ between greybox and final views.

Spatial / Player Guidance

Four examples trace the progression from an unresolved visual cue to learned interactions, curiosity-driven exploration, and predictable movement for a scripted event.

01Target Visibility Through Windows

Unresolved readability

Intent

Preview a future destination through the window before the player reaches it.

Visual cue

The bright door-frame highlight is intended to draw attention to the doorway beyond the opening.

Observation

The cue is currently not strong enough. The doorway can be overlooked, so this remains an unresolved readability issue.

02Environmental Interaction Language

Establish interaction expectations

Intent

Establish early that many environmental objects can be interacted with.

Interaction language

Breakable glass, breakable crates, and reactive objects teach the player to test the environment.

Design role

Introduce these expectations before later exploration puzzles: teach interaction language, then reuse it to encourage exploration.

03Curiosity / Hidden Space

Reuse learned interactions

Intent

Encourage curiosity by partially obstructing the player’s view and access.

Learned language

Previously introduced breakable objects form the barrier, inviting the player to experiment.

Exploration reward

Breaking through reveals a hidden space. The interaction language learned earlier becomes a tool for exploration.

04Bridge Directional Guidance

Successful spatial guidance

Spatial structure

A narrow linear path, a centered destination door, and minimal competing visual information create a strong directional space.

Expected movement

Walk directly toward the door. This predictable route supports the staging of a scripted event.

Scripted sequence

Player crosses the bridge → CG / scripted event triggers → bridge collapses → player falls.

Iteration & Development

Early versions focused on basic traversal, room connectivity, and core interaction logic. Later passes added stronger environmental framing, more readable gameplay objects, denser detail, and a more complete visual language while preserving the underlying level structure.

Early version

Basic traversal, room structure, and core interaction logic.

Later version

More complete environmental presentation, clearer gameplay objects, and stronger spatial framing.

Iteration rationale

Refine readability and presentation without losing the original gameplay structure.

Environment & 3D Art

I created a small modular environment kit to support rapid room assembly and a consistent visual language. Reusable architectural pieces and gameplay-facing assets helped move spaces from greybox into cohesive final environments without rebuilding every room from scratch.

Bridge

Door

Floor / modular panel

Public Playtesting

Cognitive was presented at PAX East 2026 as part of the Clark University / Becker School of Design & Technology showcase, where visitors were able to play the project in a public exhibition setting.

Explorations & Cut Spaces

Not every explored space made it into the final playable build. These greybox studies were part of the level-design iteration process, allowing ideas to be tested before production time was committed to final environment work.